Shoulder strap

ABSTRACT

A shoulder strap construction includes a dog bone shaped center pad slidably mounted on an elongate strap. The pad is constructed with a convex curvature that fits over the shoulder of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to the fabric shoulder strap used to carry bags or luggage.

The use of a shoulder strap to carry a bag, valise, briefcase, or the like is a common feature for many luggage items. Often a shoulder strap is configured in a manner which renders it uncomfortable and causes it to dig into the body of the user thereby resulting in chafing or other irritation. To enhance comfort associated with a shoulder strap, the strap may include a pad mounted on the strap. Cushion material may be included in the pad, or the pad may incorporate a gel such as offered by Shoreline Cases and Accessories.

Another feature desired in a shoulder strap is the capability of comfortable placement over either shoulder without major adjustment of the strap and without reversal of the luggage or bag attached to this strap. Thus there has developed a need to provide a shoulder strap which has improved comfort and utility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a shoulder strap which includes a shaped reversible pad that may be comfortably fitted over a shoulder. The shoulder strap includes a slidable center pad section which has a “dog bone” shape. The ends of the strap may be attached to the opposite sides of a bag, luggage item, or the like. The slidable pad is fabricated to maintain a convex curved shape that will fit comfortably over the shoulder of a user. Thus, the combination of the “dog bone” shape and convex configuration of the slidable pad provides a highly useful, yet adjustable shoulder strap.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved shoulder strap construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved should strap construction with a slidable pad having a generally “dog bone” shape and which is also curved to fit over either shoulder of a user.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shoulder strap which is padded, is sized to be comfortable and which avoids chafing or digging into the back or shoulder of the user.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the shoulder strap of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the shoulder strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the strap of FIG. 1 depicting the underside of the slidable pad associated with the strap;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the strap of FIG. 1 as viewed from the top side of the slidable pad thereof;

FIG. 5 is a bottom side view of the slidable pad of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the pad of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the pad of FIG. 6 taken along the lines 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the pad of FIG. 6 taken along the lines 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the fabric pattern associated with the extreme bottom side of the pad of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a pattern view of the top layer of the underside portion of the pad of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of the pad construction utilized for the shoulder strap of the invention in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, and in particular FIGS. 1-4, the shoulder strap embodiment depicted includes a belt or web 20 which comprises an elongate flexible strap of fabric material. A buckle element 22 is affixed at one end of the web or belt 20. A buckle member 24 is affixed to the opposite end of the belt or strap 20.

The web, belt or strap 20 is combined with a slidable pad construction 26. That is, as depicted for example, in FIG. 4, the belt or strap 20 fits through a passage or pocket 28 defined in the pad 26. The belt 20 is thus slidable through the pocket 28 so that the position of the pad construction 26 may be adjusted along the length of the belt 20. In a preferred embodiment, the belt 20 is adjustable in length and thus includes an adjustable buckle element 30 which permits adjustment of the belt 20 that is looped through the buckle element 22.

Importantly, the general configuration of the pad 26 can be described as having a “dog bone” configuration wherein the pad 26 includes a first wide end 32 and an opposite wide end 34 joined by a narrowed mid section 36. Thus, the lateral or side to side dimension of the mid section 36 is lesser than that of the opposite end sections 32 and 34. As shown in the drawings, the transition between the sections is an arcuate or curved transition and the plan configuration is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis between ends 32, 34. That is, the one end section 32 forms a generally semi-circular pattern and then smoothly flows into the mid section 36. A longitudinal, middle axis 60 defines a line of general symmetry. This is illustrated for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pad 26 is formed so that it will be convexly curved as depicted, for example, in FIG. 1. That is, the pad 26 is constructed in a manner which maintains the pad in a curved or arcuate configuration, again as depicted in FIG. 1. This curvature is provided to enhance the comfort of the use of the shoulder pad 26 in combination with the belt 20.

The construction of the pad 26 enables the configuration described, namely the curved configuration depicted in FIG. 1. That is, in an embodiment of the invention, the pad 26 is comprised of a first under side panel 40 which is typically a flexible fabric material. Juxtaposed next thereto is a padding material layer 42 which is retained in position by means of an interior layer or panel 44 of flexible fabric material. Adjacent the interior layer 44 of fabric is an outer layer 46 of fabric spaced from the layer 44 or positioned in a manner which will enable fitting of the strap 20 into the passage or region 48 between the layers 44 and 46. The layers 40, 44 and 46 and padding 42 are bound together by a circumferential binding 50 which is sewn entirely about the periphery of the under layer 40, the padding layer 42 and the intermediate layer 44, as depicted for example in FIG. 6.

In order to achieve the desired curvature of the shoulder pad 26, the shape of the layers 40, 42, 44 and 46 is typically adjusted as described hereinafter. Thus, the bottom layer 40 will typically have a longitudinal dimension along longitudinal axis 60 which is lesser than the longitudinal axis dimension along the axis 62 of the layer 44. The lateral, or side to side dimension, along the transverse axis 64 of the layer 40 is typically substantially equal to the lateral or side to side dimension along the axis 66 of the intermediate layer 44. Padding 42, which is fitted between the layers, may however be adjusted and need not be the size of the foot print or layer 40. Typically, the padding 42 is enclosed between the bottom layer 40 and intermediate layer 44 and thus, has a smaller or lesser profile than these layers.

In any event, the top layer 46 will typically overlie substantially the intermediate layer 44. However, it will be noted that the top layer is missing opposite end sections 32 and 34. Thus, the lateral or side to side dimension of the top layer 46 is substantially equal to that of the lateral or side to side dimension of the bottom layer 40 and intermediate layer 44. However, the longitudinal dimension of the top layer 46 is foreshortened relative to both of the other layers 40 and 44. By so adjusting the dimensional characteristics of the layers and binding the layers in the manner depicted in the Figures, the intermediate layer 44 will be stitched or sewn to the bottom layer 40 along a seam equivalent from the outer edge of each layer 40, 44 and thereby cause a convex curve to form. This, for example, is illustrated in FIG. 8. There, the bottom layer 40 and intermediate layer 44 are joined together by the binding. The top layer 46 is also joined together by the binding. Since the bottom layer 40 is foreshortened in the longitudinal dimension relative to the intermediate layer 44, and since the top layer 46 does not impact on the length dimension of the shoulder pad, a curvature of the assembly is effected, again as depicted in FIG. 1.

The relative relationship of the dimensional characteristics of the various layers forming the shoulder pad 26 therefore accommodates the creation of a curved shoulder pad, as illustrated in FIG. 1, which is curved to fit over the shoulder, but is not curved in a lateral sense due to the dimensional characteristics described. Of course, other arrangements of the relationship between the fabric layers, such as including additional layers of fabric, adjusting the thickness of the layers, and the like, may be relied upon to provide for a curvature between the opposite ends of the pad 26 while at the same time avoiding a curvature with respect to the lateral sides of the pad construction 26. As a consequence, the belt or strap 20 may be fitted through the pad construction or pad 26, and will assume the curved shape depicted in FIG. 1.

The amount of curvature may be adjusted by adjusting the relative sizes of the various layers. The amount of padding and how it is stitched into the pad may also be adjusted. As depicted in the Figures, additional stitching may be provided from side to side or laterally to retain the padding. Such additional stitching for example, being exemplified by the stitch lines 70 and 72. Thus, the invention is subject to variations and alterations within the spirit and scope thereof. The invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A shoulder strap for a case or luggage comprising, in combination: an elongate strap having a first end and a second opposite end; a fastener at each end for attachment of the strap to a case or luggage; and a slidable shoulder pad mounted on the strap between the ends of the strap, said pad including an elongate dimension and a transverse dimension, said elongate dimension aligned with the strap, said transverse dimension being transverse to the strap, said transverse dimension being varied between the ends of the elongate dimension, and being greater adjacent the ends than at the midpoint to define opposed concave curved side edges of the pad, said pad having a plan view profile with enlarged end sections relative to a narrow midsection so as to fit over the shoulder of a user with the narrow section on the top of the shoulder and the enlarged sections on the front and back sides of a shoulder; said pad further including differentially sized layers of material including a layer for proximity to a shoulder having a lesser longitudinal dimension than a layer a lesser proximity to a shoulder, said layers joined along their periphery to form an arcuate shape for fitting over a shoulder. 